Liverpool return to Champions League action this Tuesday night when they face Portuguese side FC Porto at Anfield. Read on for our predicted starting eleven for this huge quarter-final tie.
Jurgen Klopp’s Reds put us fans through the wringer again on Friday night, leaving it late before eventually pulling away from Southampton to take all three points and return to the top of the Premier League.
Now, The Reds’ focus turns back to Europe’s premier club competition and the potential of another memorable journey for the club.
Having endured a few months of consistent injury worries, Klopp is finally getting to utilise a full squad.
Joe Gomez and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain have both returned to full training with Gomez already pushing for a place in the matchday squad. The young defender has been out since early-December with a broken ankle so will be eased back in slowly.
Oxlade-Chamberlain has been injured for a year now so his return will be far more drawn out. Klopp may even have to make a very tough decision about whether it’s worth the risk of getting The Ox back in the first team this season at all.
On Tuesday night, I think Klopp will go full strength as there will be sufficient rest time before playing Chelsea on Sunday in the Premier League.
Andy Robertson is suspended for the first leg so I think James Milner will be deployed at left-back.
Alisson will be between the sticks, of course. The back four will most likely be Trent Alexander-Arnold, Joel Matip, Virgil van Dijk and James Milner.
Up front, it should be the main three men – Bobby Firmino, Mohamed Salah and Sadio Mané.
Jordan Henderson and Naby Keita will both be hoping for a starting place in midfield after goalscoring performances in the 3-1 win at Southampton.
Klopp will probably opt for the experience of Henderson in the centre. My hope is that Fabinho will play the DM role with Henderson and Gini Wijnaldum in front of him.
Below is the full predicted lineup for the Porto game. If you’d like to read our in-depth match preview then just click here.
Liverpool’s predicted starting lineup vs FC Porto: Alisson; Alexander-Arnold, Matip, Van Dijk, Milner; Fabinho, Henderson(c), Wijnaldum; Salah, Firmino, Mané
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